VIRGINIA ELECTIONS
Local 26 is extremely happy to report that Tim Kaine was victorious in his run as the next Governor of Virginia! Thanks to all the Local 26 members, volunteers, staffers and their families. This win would not have been possible without your support. Tim Kaine promises to continue the legacy of Governor Mark Warner and keep Virginia moving forward. Hopefully, this election will set the tone for the nation.
The Northern Virginia Central Labor Council and Local 26 volunteers worked long hours knocking on doors of Union members’ homes, making thousands of phone calls, putting up signs, sending letters, and getting out the vote. The election was kicked off by a rally in Alexandria on election-eve attended by 
AFL-CIO President John Sweeney. Northern Virginia’s union members made the difference in this election. Congratulations, and thanks again! This is one of the most positive investments you could have made in your future.
Although some of our endorsed candidates did not win the other top state-wide races, we were able to gain key seats in the House of Delegates and knock out an incumbent in Loudoun County. State-wide, 39 endorsed candidates won House seats.
HURRICANE KATRINA
CONTRIBUTION
I am pleased to report that Local 26 received over $33,000 from our members in donations for the Hurricane Fund, making a total of $47,589.57 for Local 26’s contribution. I took a check to the International Office and presented it to President Hill and International Secretary-Treasurer Jon Walters in early November. Thanks to everyone for their generosity and tremendous response to our plea for helping the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
NEW BUILDING UPDATE
The interior demolition of our new Local 26 headquarters building in Lanham, Maryland is completed, and all bids were in the end of last month. The electrical contractor for the second floor remodeling is Freestate Electric. Work has already begun preparing our office space as scheduled. The permits for the first floor JATC area have been submitted, and work will begin in that office space very soon. If you are traveling westbound on Route 50, you can now see our sign draped from the roof of the building, announcing Local 26 will be calling that building our “home” in the near future!
NEW STADIUM
I attended a meeting with the Washington, DC Sports Commission about the upcoming Washington Nationals Stadium and, at that meeting, the projected start and completion dates were discussed. They projected that in March this job will be underway, and it should be completed in time for baseball in 2008.
NEGOTIATIONS
The last raise negotiated in our current Inside and Residential Wireman Agreements went into effect last month. The current agreements expire May 31, 2006, and negotiations will begin in the spring of next year for these collective bargaining agreements. If you have any suggestions for changes or proposals to our current contract, please send them to me at the union hall, in writing, no later than February 1, 2006.
UPCOMING HOLIDAYS
Because Christmas Day and New Year’s Day fall on a Sunday this year, we will be recognizing both of these holidays on a Monday. Therefore, December 26 and January 2 will be Local 26 holidays for Christmas and New Year’s, respectively. In addition, Monday, January 16, is a union holiday honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday.
REMINDER - CHRISTMAS PARTIES/MEETINGS
Our annual Christmas party and meeting in the Washington, DC area will be held again this year at Sardo Hall on Friday, December 2, at 8:00 p.m. On Friday, December 9, we will hold our Winchester party/meeting at 7:00 p.m., and Friday, December 16 will be our Roanoke party/meeting at 7:00 p.m. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend.
SEASONS GREETINGS
I would like to take this opportunity to extend best wishes to all of our members for a joyous holiday season. Please take the time to enjoy your family and friends, and celebrate safely. Also, this is the time of year to stop and think of those less fortunate or anyone who has been enduring difficult times. It is especially important to remember our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and the victims of Hurricane Katrina. If you know of someone near by who could use some company or a lift to their spirits, give them a call or stop by and visit. Time spent with someone is a gift money cannot buy–it is a gift of yourself. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Pictured above from left to right-- Mike Shoemaker, Financial Secretary; Frederick Reckeweg, 30 Years; Hudson Lancaster, 20 Years; Darryl McPherson, 20 Years; Robert Rose (back), 20 Years; Wilbert Coleman, 30 Years; Earl Jones (back), 35 Years; Larry Hull, 30 Years; Chuck Graham, Business Manager
Here we are, another year coming to an end, and everyone is running to the store doing their holiday shopping. Let’s remember to try to help those less fortunate during the holiday season. This has been a tough year for many due to the natural disasters we have suffered through in this country. If you have a few extra dollars or spare change, now is a 
good time to give it to your favorite charity. They not only will take cash donations, but many will also come to your house to pick up clothing or furniture that you no longer use.
Also, keep in mind during the shopping season that many of our union brothers and sisters working in the retail stores are fighting to keep the wages and benefits they have bargained for over the years. We all can help by shopping and buying “Made in the USA and Union Made”. We have heard it before, “Look for the Union Label”!
Some of the union stores are Giant Food, Safeway, Shoppers, Costco, Magruders, and Super Fresh; the non-union competitors are CVS, Food Lion, Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, BJ’S, K-Mart, and Rite Aid. We can all help a lot by giving a little this year.
As a reminder, your dues should now be paid up through December, and the first quarter dues are due on January 1, 2006.
Come in to the main office or to any satellite office, and purchase some Local 26 gear for the holidays!
Go to www.ibewlocal26.org/merchandise.cfm to see our merchandise.
Shop Online:
Shop IBEW merchandise online-
http://ibewmerchandise.com
Get discounts and union benefits from Union Plus-
www.unionplus.org
Shop for Union, by Union at the AFL-CIO store-
www.shopunionmade.org
http://unionshop.aflcio.org/shop/index.cfm
by Mike Shoemaker, Financial Secretary
I would, once again, like to reacquaint you with one of the benefits of our Health and Welfare Plan. These hurried times are often the cause of problems that can be addressed by our Employee Assistance Program.
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers free, confidential counseling and referral programs for members and their families. Everyone experiences personal problems occasionally, and your EAP provides a convenient, confidential and cost free way of effectively addressing such issues before they interfere with your obligations and overall work performance.
Problems that can be addressed by your EAP include crisis, family issues, stress, emotional well-being, relationships, substance abuse, grief and loss, and work-related concerns.
Each caller is immediately connected to a Business Health Services (BHS) Care Coordinator. These coordinators are licensed, Masters-level clinicians who assess the problem and guide the caller through the EAP process from initial call to case closure, ensuring the client is satisfied and connected to the appropriate resources.
At the onset, a BHS accredited, licensed clinician gathers information, develops a customized plan for problem resolution and provides short-term counseling, problem-solving resources, outside referrals and follow-up services.
BHS adheres to State and Federal regulations in providing confidential telephonic and face-to-face counseling. Only by providing written consent to your EAP counselor can information be released.
The cost of the EAP service is paid for from the Health and Welfare Benefit Fund and, therefore, is no cost to the participants. Payment for resources beyond the scope of the EAP may be covered by the Health and Welfare Fund.
You may contact your EAP anytime, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, and BHS counselors will provide confidential assistance. You can reach them at 1-800-765-EAPs (3277).
by Franny Olshefski, President
As reported in last month’s newsletter, the Davis-Bacon and related Acts were suspended for workers in the Gulf Coast. I am pleased to report, since the writing of that article, the Davis-Bacon Act has been reinstated. On October 26, President George W. Bush rescinded his executive order suspending the Act. It officially expired on November 8.
The protest of the suspension was a collaborative effort by working families and their unions, members of Congress, both Democrats and Republicans, and other various community and religious groups. Letters to Congress from AFL-CIO activists alone topped over 350,000. In a statement by AFL-CIO President, John Sweeney, he announced, “America’s working families have won a huge victory by forcing Bush to restore prevailing wage requirements in the Gulf.”
by Franny Olshefski, President
The IBEW Cookbook, Welcome To the Taste of IBEW, and the IBEW apron make great gifts for the holiday season. Give them as a gift or get them for yourself and treat your friends and family to the wonderful cooking. Come in to any Local 26 office and purchase yours today for only $25 each!
“The Taste of IBEW” recipes blend the specialties of each region in the IBEW Fourth District. These recipes include appetizers & beverages, breads & rolls, soups & salads, main dishes, desserts, and much more!
Organizing for our future depends on the involvement of every member. Over the past year, our members have been very active in our organizing efforts. They have helped build this Local Union by talking to the non-union electrician. Our goal is to organize all qualified electrical workers. Communicating the benefits of working union, one-on-one, is the basis of grass-roots organizing.
In addition to the person-to-person conversations, picketing this past year has promoted our goal. Picketing unifies and strengthens the workers. Through a union and picketing, workers are able to voice their concerns. News articles have been generated in local papers on our behalf as a result of our picketing efforts. Stronger bonds are created with other union crafts that work at the picket sites. The issues of the worker in our industry, as well as workers in general, are raised to the public. Picketing has always been an effective tool for organizing at Local 26. Our members have done a great job on the picket lines this past year.
The organizing efforts in Roanoke are helping to level the playing field. Organizing is a challenge in this area due to the fact that there is less union support the further south you travel. However, with continued applied pressure through our organizing efforts, the non-union contractor has been affected. The workers are being educated on the advantages a union provides. They are aware that the non-union employer has been controlling their wages and working conditions. Electricians of several non-union shops have received substantial wage increases due to the union presence.
Increasing our presence in Charlottesville is starting to mature. Much of the organizing work in this area is similar to Roanoke. The workers need to be educated about the union and what it will bring to the work place. Also, the non-union employer will have to be enlightened as to what the union can offer his business. Several of our contractors are bidding work in this area, creating more employment opportunities for our members. The organizers in Charlottesville continue to do a good job communicating with the non-union work force. They have been successful in meeting the needs of our contractors to fill job positions with qualified electricians.
Without the persistence of the union to protect our standard of living, non-union employers will take advantage of the workers. Recently, a non-union contractor in Northern Virginia had to make good on broken promises to his employees. With the help of Salts working for this contractor, we were able expose to the work force that the owner was paying substandard wages, did not follow through on workers evaluations and did not follow through on job bonuses.
Our members and organizers continue to do a great job organizing through door-to-door campaigning for political candidates, picketing, house calling, house visits and calling in valuable information. Local 26 has a very good organizing track record. There have been many accomplishments this past year, and I would like to thank everyone on the job they do to help organize all qualified electrical workers. Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
by Joe Dabbs, Organizer
“Our cause is the cause of human justice, human rights, and human security. We (as Union sisters and brothers) refuse... to condone or tolerate... oppression of any kind.” Do these words sound familiar? They should. In case they don’t, allow me to help you out. These words were taken directly from a Declaration adopted by the IBEW. How many of you know where this declaration or statement is found? If you, as a member, are familiar with this statement then you rank among those who truly understand why unions came to be. Notice the declaration speaks to the cause of humans – that’s us brother and sister! We (human power) are the fuel that propels our union engine. In order for us to move forward as a Union or Industry, we must pay close attention to how we relate to one another.
Our current labor agreement with NECA briefly mentions “improving relationships”. If you have been attending Union meetings over the past two years, you have heard the Business Manager say at the conclusion of his report “remember to treat each other the way you want to be treated”. All of these scenarios-- the IBEW Declaration, our labor agreement and the Business Manager’s report-- speak, in one way or another, to the importance of how we relate to one another whether horizontally (supervision) or vertically (member to member). If we make a conscious effort to treat our fellow members in a positive, encouraging way, everybody wins. It is a proven fact that when we respect each other as human beings productivity, profits and personal relations improve dramatically!
In closing, let me assure the membership that the Local 26 Minority Coalition is committed to strengthening our Local Union and the electrical industry by supporting our investment in our most important asset – human capital. We are our brothers’ keeper.
Please make a note, the meeting scheduled for December 16th, is canceled due to the holiday party.
by Larry Greenhill, Sr., Minority Coalition President
Skill improvement training is essential in order for all electricians, technicians, and their respective contractors to keep our competitive edge in the electrical and telecommunication industries. Therefore, The Local 26/NECA Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee’s spring 2006 Journeyman classes will begin the week of January 23rd. Class sizes are limited and will be filled in the order in which they are received.
Watch your mail for the JATC newsletter which will contain a list of all available classes, as well as a mail-in registration form. Please make sure your address is current by calling the Finance Office, at 202-829-2900 Monday- Friday from 7:30 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. You may also register online at www.washdcjatc.org. Registration ends on January 20th.
The Local Union Scholarship Committee will be accepting applications for the annual Local 26 Scholarship Award, starting in January. Two winners will be selected as recipients of the 4-year, $1,000 per year, award. Applicants must be in their senior year of high school or be a high school graduate between the ages of 17 and 21, with less than two years of college completed. This scholarship is open to the children of Local 26 members who have been in good standing for at least five years.
After January 1st you may stop by the Washington, DC Union Hall and pick up an application form, or call the business office at 202-829-2900 to request that one be mailed to your home. The deadline for returning completed applications is March 30, 2006.
Most vehicles depreciate in value as soon as the member drives them off the dealer’s lot. It’s not uncommon for a member to have an outstanding loan balance that exceeds the vehicle’s book value. If the member’s car is stolen, or totaled in an accident, the insurance settlement may not cover the full amount outstanding on the loan. GAP protects members by paying off the balance on the members’ loans that remains after the insurance settlement (loan to value ratio up to 125% of the NADA value).
GAP Plus coverage also includes up to $1,000 toward your down payment of a replacement vehicle (where allowed by law and when financed by our credit union).
You can sign up for GAP when you apply for your new vehicle or used vehicle loan. There’s no underwriting, no red tape, no hassles. And for your convenience, the amount can be rolled into your monthly loan payment.
Getting an auto loan is about more than just the right rate. It’s also about having the right protection. MRC helps pay for covered repairs on your car when that unexpected breakdown occurs. For a few dollars a month, you can protect your vehicle and your finances from expenses that could total hundreds or even thousands of dollars!
Purchasing MRC on a vehicle that is still covered by the manufacturer’s warranty provides you with the most convenient, cost-effective way to ensure uninterrupted protection and peace of mind if you own the vehicle after the manufacturer’s warranty expires.
On the date of purchase, the MRC plan starts protecting you immediately from the cost and inconvenience of covered breakdowns, with the plan’s 24 hour roadside assistance, towing, emergency travel expense, and rental reimbursement.
If you’re purchasing coverage for an eligible used vehicle that is no longer covered by a manufacturer’s warranty, you’ll have peace of mind in knowing that you’re protected from the cost and inconvenience of covered breakdowns.
The giant 8’ Christmas stocking is here! Credit Union members that have children and/or grandchildren under the age of 12 can enter them for the free drawing to be held on December 20, 2005. Entry blanks can be mailed to you or you can stop by the office and fill them out.
When the Credit Union office is closed,
get cash with your ATM/Point of Sale Card.
December 26th closed in observance of Christmas
January 2nd closed in observance of New Year’s Day
January 16th closed in observance of Martin Luther King
Regular hours: Monday through Friday 9-12 & 1-3:30 Telephone: 202-829-5404
Audio response: 1-800-724-7573 Fax: 202-723-3190
e-mail: information@ibew26fcu.com
